Police arrest suspect from bar robbery, Saturday search

A man wanted by police in connection with the robbery of Rocco's Bar & Grill was arrested Monday night.

The same man was sought Saturday in a daylong but unsuccessful search by the SWAT team in the Cherry Avenue NE area.

Salem Police said that Michael Anthony Mitchell, 48, was arrested around 9 a.m. Monday on charges that he robbed the bar at 3007 Market St. NE.

According to police, Mitchell went to the bar Sunday around 10:30 p.m. and told two employees that he was armed and demanded cash. No one actually saw a weapon and no one was injured. Police tried to find Mitchell with a police dog but were unsuccessful.

Police said that Mitchell was the target of police activity on Saturday as well.

Around 10 a.m. Saturday, Marion County Sheriff's deputies assisted by Salem Police searched for a man thought to be Mitchell in a transient camp in the 2800 block of Cherry Avenue NE.

The man stepped out of bushes with a gun to his head, police said, and threatened to shoot himself before disappearing back into the bushes. A Salem Police SWAT team responded to the area and was on scene until about 9:30 p.m. when they determined he was no longer there.

Mitchell was booked into the Marion County jail on charges of robbery and felon in possession of a firearm. The sheriff's office gave him additional charges.